Underwater torpedo tube



Jan. 17, 1928.

H. TECHEL UNDERWATER TORPEDO TUBE Filed Auz. 10. 1926 Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

HANS TECHEL, F HAAG, NETHERLANDS, ASS IGNOR T0 FRIEDIKRUPP GERMANIA- WERFT AK'IIENGESELLSCHAFT, 0F KIEL-GAABDEN, GERMANY.

UNDERWATER ronrnno TUBE.

Application filed August 10, 1926, Serial No. 128,495, and in Germany August 11, 1925.

This invention relates to under-water torpedo tubes of the type disclosed in the Letters-Patent of the United States No. 1,526,256, according to which the torpedo fivis ejected by means of a freely movable piston which is arranged in the tube in rear of but not in contact with the torpedo and the rear face of which is acted upon by the driving medium.

Now, the invention has for its ob ect to modify the torpedo tube in such a manner that its length is reduced,this being very desirable especially in submarines lIlV18\ V of the restricted conditions of room. Tl11S 15 object is essentially attained by forming the driving piston as a hollow body member open at one side and adapted to surround the rear end of the torpedo.

An embodiment of thesubject-matter of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows a longitudi nal section through a torpedo tube with a piston constructed in accordance with the invention.

The construction of the tube corresponds in general to that of the tube described in the U. S. Patent 1,526,256. A designates the torpedo tube which is closable in a gasand air-tight manner by means of doors B and C. The supply pipe D for the compressed air which is provided with a cock E, opens into the door B. F is the torpedo.v Arranged at a certain distance 00 from the rear end of the torpedo is the driving piston G which is constructed, according to the invention, as a hollow body member surrounding the rear end of the torpedo. When the piston is in the position of rest, it bearsby its head tightly against a rubber ring 6 K, L, M are the control rods of the compressed air exhaust valve H, J. 'The doublearmed lever M which is provided at its lower end with a stop m and with a pawllike element 0, is mounted in a hollow bearing block N. The tube A and the water tank R are in communication with each other by means of a pipe P which is closable by a cock Q.

The same as in the said Letters-Patent,

the torpedo F is arranged in the tube A so that a certain distance :0 exists between its end carrying the sensitive steering elements and the piston head. The space between the torpedo and the piston fills with the pressure water when same is admitted and forms a water cushion protecting the sensitive steering elements of the torpedo.

The launching of the torpedo is effected as described in the said Letters-Patent by admitting behind the piston G compressed air drivingthe piston forward which in turn transmits the movement to the torpedo through the intermediary of the surrounding water. In moving forward the piston reverses the lever vM and thereby opens the exhaust valve H for the compressed air, whereupon the piston is driven back into its initial position by the pressure of the external water.

I claim:

Hamburg, Germany this 27th day of July,

HANS TECHEL;

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,656,249. Granted January 17, 1928, to

HANS TECHEL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In the claim, line 76, for the article "a" read "at"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the recordof the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of February, A. D. 1928.

M. J. Moore, Seal. Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

